Illuminated sign



Aug. 11, 1931. w BENERMAN 1,818,879

' ILLUMINATED SIGN Filed June 12, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 InventorGttornegs,

Aug. 11, 1931. w, BENERMAN 1,818,879

ILLUMINATED 5 IGN Filed June 12, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ISnventor,

Gttornegs,

Patented Au 11, 1931 WATKINS BENERMAN, OF EL PASO, TEXAS ILLUMINATEDSIGN Application filed June 12,

My invention relates generally to illuminated display devices such assigns, and more particularly to Signs in which'a plurality ofilluminating elements are arranged close together and adapted forsuccessive illumination to create the illusion of movement of light.

" Heretofore, such signs have been con structed to comprise a pluralityof incandescent lamps arranged in various relative positions and meansfor switching the individual lamps or groups of lamps on and offaccording to a predetermined sequence. Be-

cause of the fact that these heretofore constructed signs have includeda large number of individual lamps, the electrical connections necessaryfor producing the desired sequence of illuminations of the various lampshave necessarily beenromplicated and correspondingly expensive both inoriginal 7 cost and in the cost of maintenance. When it is realized thata sign of even modest proportions includes several hundreds of lamps, itwill be readily appreciated'that the construction of a sign capable ofproducing re-.

sults similar to the results produced by such heretofore constructedsigns, but entalling a much simpler arrangement of parts, electricalconnections, and switching apparatus,

will be an important step forward in the art.

As far as I am aware, signs of the above filled with neon or othersimilar rarefied gas adapted to produce a luminous glow upon the passageof an electric current through the tube. I have found that electricdischarge lamps of this kind may be so arranged in an illuminated signas to be adapted to create the illusion of movement of light, and thattheefi'ects produced are more attractive than the elfects obtainable insigns comprising a number of spaced individual lights.

.of luminous electric discharge lamps 1929. Serial No. 370,329.

prising a plurality of gas filled tubes arranged in a manner to glowupon the lpassage of an electric current therethroug to thus create theeffect or illusion of movementof light. Other objects will becomeapparent from the description which is to follow; i

In the drawings, Figurejl is a diagrammatic view showing an arrangementof twelve tubes arran ed in four banks of three tubes each, and e ectrical connections and switching apparatus for illuminating the tubes indesired predetermined sequence;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of three tubes arranged in a manner tocreate the illusion of substantially linear movement of light when thetubes are illuminated in succession;

Figure 3 shows in perspective a modified arrangement of three tubes inwhich the successive lighting of the tubes creates the illusion ofmovement of light along astraight thin line;

Figure 4 shows in perspective a modified arrangement in which aplurality of tubes are so individually formed and arranged relative toone another that a lighting of the v respective tubes in succession willcreate the effect of oscillation of light about an axis;

Figure 5 is a sectional view takenon the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

"Figure 6 shows in perspective an arrangement of six tubes arrangedspirally about a common axis and'a'dapted to produce the O illusion ofmovement of light'in a spiral .direction;

Figure 7 vis a view similar to Fi ure 6 except that'three tubes only areemp oyed;

Flgure 8 is a perspective view of an arrangement similar to that shownin Figure 3 except that two tubes only are used.-

My invention may be embodled in signs or other display devices includingvarious different arrangements of electric discharge lamps. In general,a sign constructed in accordance with my invention includes a pluralityof gas 'filled tubes adapted to produce a luminescent glow upon thepassage of an electric current therethrough, the tubes being arrangedclose together and in most cases extending in the same generaldirection. Each of the tubes is provided with alternate light radiatingand opaque portions, the light radiating portions of the tubes beingspaced from each other in most light radiating portion of the tube nextlighted. In this manner the illusion of movement of light will be madeto produce various different effects by forming the individual tubes andlocating them relative to each other in a manner designed to produce thedesired effects.

With more particular reference to the illustrated embodiments of myinvention, I have shown in Figure 1a simple arrangement of tubes adaptedto create the illusion of movement of light, and the appertainantelectrical connections for lighting the tubes in desired sequence.

The sign embodying my invention and illustrated in Figures .1 and 2'includes a sign proper A, electrical connections B for furnishingelectricity to the tubes compris-' ing the I sign proper, and anautomatic switchin mechanism CV The s1gn proper' comprises four banks,1, 2, 3, and 4, of tubes, each bank including three tubes 5, 6, and 7.Beginningwith the bank 1 shown on the left as' viewed in Figure 1, theupperends of the tubes 5, 6, and 7 thereof are respectively connected tothe left hand ends of the correspondingtubes 5,; 6, and 7 of the bank 2.The other ends of the tubes 5, 6, and 7, in bank 2 are, in a similarmanner, connected to the upper ends of cor- "res ondin tubes 5, 6, and 7of the bank 3,

an' the ot er ends ofthe tubes in the bank 3 are connected to the right.hand ends of As shown in Figure 2, each bank of tubes comprises threeindividual tubes arranged to extend'in the same general direction,namely,

from left to right as viewed in the plane of the drawings. Each ofthetubes includes a plurality of substantially V-shaped sections 9 unitedby connecting portions 10. Each V-shaped section includes lightradiating and opaque portions 11 and 12 which are respectively locatedon opposite sidesof the apex of the section. The apex of each sectionand the connecting portions 10 between adjacent sections of each tubeare formed to extend a short distance perpendicularly of the planes inwhich the light radiating and opaque portions of the tubes lie. It willbe noted that all of the light radiating portions of each tube lie in acommon plane and that all of the opaque portions of each tube lie in aplane parallel to and spaced from the first plane.

The tubes are so arranged relative to each other that, when viewed fromthe front of the sign, the light radiating portions of each tube crossin front of the opaque portions of the other tubes so that, when anytube is, lighted, the illumination displayed by the light radiatingportions will not be shut off from view by any part of an opaqueportion. It will be observed that the intermediate light radiatingportions of any of the tubes 5, 6, and 7 are disposed between adjacentlight radiating portions of another of the'tubes. Forin'stance, thefirst light radiating portion from the left of the tube 6 as viewed inFigure 2is disposed between the first and second light radiatingportions of the tube 5 from the left as viewed in Figure 2. In a likemanner, the second light radiating portion of the tube 5 .is disthoughmoving from right to left by simply illuminating the tubes in the'reverse order, namely, 7 65. If desired, switching mechanism could bearranged to illuminate .the tubes in the following sequence, 5 and 6together, 6 and 7 together, 7 and 5 together, 5 and 6, together, 6' and7 together, 7 and'5 together, and so on; In this way, the adjacent,lightradiating portionsof two of the tubes would be lighted at the same time,and

a slightly different effect would be produced,

although the band of light would still 'appear to move from left toright. It'will be noted that, since each of the tubes 5,.6', and 7comprises a plurality of spaced light radiating portions, and since theassociated tubes have their light radiating portions in staggeredrelation and arranged in the order 567, then repeating 5, 6, and 7, thenagain repeating, and soon, these light radiating portions-are arrangedin repeating series, which arrangement makes possible the creation ofmovement of a continuous band of light instead of the movement of a orthat; of some modification embodying the same general princi le. Tubesfilled with neon or other rare ed gas and provided 'withsuitableelectrodes at the ends of the tubes are of well known construction and'4 and 5,- four tubes 31, 32, 33, and 34 are so to the desiredpotential. primary windin of each transformer-is connected to one sideof'the power line by a need not be described in detail. ,I

The ends of the tubes are connected by' a power line 13. to anysuitablesource of electricity; In order to intermittently furnishcurrent to the tubes in succession, I provide a motor 14 connected tothe source of electricity, reduction gearing 15 driven by the motor, anda-three-segment commutator 16 in turn driven by the reduction gearing. Arheostat or starting box 17 is interposed between the motor and one sideof the power line .13 for controlling the speed of the motor.A'tra'nsformer 18 is interposed between each tube and the source ofelectricity in order to'ste up the ,voltage ne side of the conductor 19,and the other side is connected to one of the commutator'brushes by" aconductor 20. The secondary. winding-of each transformer is connected toopposite terminals of one of the tubes by conductors 2121. While I haveillustrated .oneform of our.-

'rent-supplying"means, it is to be understood would suflice.

Figure 3 illustrates a modified arran e-- 32-33-34, then repeating"3132-33-.34

ment of tubes adapted to create the e ect of movement of light alongathin straight line. In this modification three tubes 22,.

23, 24 are employed, each of the tubes in'- cluding spaced off-set orU-shaped light ra-. diating portions -2525 and intervening opaqueportions 26. It will be observed that the tubes are so arranged relativeto,

each other that the light radiating portions 25 of the respective tubesextend in substantially the same straight line and are arranged inrepeating series such as that described in connection with theconstruction illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. By illumilight will appearto move from the light.

when the tubes 27 and 28 are alternately illuminated and extinguished,in succession,

radiating portions of; one tube to the other and thence back to-thefirst tube. If desired, any number of tubes withinreasonable-limits'could be employed in an arrange- .ment suchas thoseshown in Figures 3 and 8 to produce various different illusions ofmovement;

In the arrangement illustrated in Figures arranged that, when the tubesare alternately lighted and extinguished in a predetermined sequence,light will appear to oscillate about an axis. In this arrangement theseveral tubes extend in the same general di-v rection and areindividually of zig-zag'formation, each tube comprising a plurality ofconnected, light radiating, outwardly bowed or substantially V-shapedsections connected by intermediate inwardly bowed opaque portions 36,the V-shaped sections of the several tubes being transversely alignedand arranged in pairs of directly opposite sections. 1 These tubes areradially disposed about a line, extending longitudithe tube .34. By thenlighting the tubes in the reverse order, light will appear to swingupwardly from the tube 34 to the tube. 31,

and by repeating'this sequence of illumina-- tion there will be producedan apparent continuous oscillation of light about a horizontal axis. 'Ifit is desired to create the ef-.

' feet of rotation of light about an axis, the

tubes will be illuminated in the order 31- and so on. 'The tubes31-32*.33 and 34,

each other, may, if more convenient for manufacturing conslderatlons, bearranged to all he n a common plane. .W1th this arrangement the V-shapedportions of the two inner tubes 32 and 33 would extend laterallyaway'from each other to a lesser degree than i the two outer tubes 31and 34. When either of the two arrangements described above are employedfor producing the effect, of radiation or..oscilaltion of light about anaxis it is desirable that the outerextremities of the outwardly bowedsections 35 of the tubes 31 and 34 which itwill be observed, constituteoutertubes, lie ina common plane as shown in Figure 5. It is alsodesirable that the projections of the outwardly bowed sec- 'tionsofthetubes 32 and 33, which constitute inner tubes, upon the plane inwhich'the outer extremities of the 'outertube sections lie be disposedbetween theopposit sections of the respective pairs of outer tubesections.

' axis.

curved sections,rectangular portions, or U- shaped sections, and that byusing tubes of these various different shapes the same effect ofoscillation of light will be obtained. The herein' illustrated anddescribed arrangement of four tubes. for producing the effect ofoscillation of light about an axis exemplifies a practical embodiment ofthis feature of the invention, but the general elfect may be produced bymeans of any number of tubes greater than two and within practicallimits. If two tubes only are employed, as for instancethe tubes 31 and34, the effect produced willbe that of light flashing back and forthbetween the tubes.

Figure 6 illustrates a further modification in which six tubes 38, 39,40, 41, 42, and 43 are spirally arranged about a common In thisarrangement, the individual tubes are provided with alternate lightradiating and opaque portions 44 and 45, respectively, the lightradiating portions of I the several tubes being longitudinally stagmovein a spiral direction, the e gered relative to one another. By lightingthe tubes in succession, light will gtppear to ect pro duced beingsimilar to that of a rotating striped barbers pole.

Figure 7 illustrates an arrangement of spirally disposed tubes similarto that shown in Figure 6, with the exception that onl three tubes 46,47, and 48 are employe In this construction, each tube includesalterdescribing several of the forms embodying my invention, I havestated that the tubes shall be lighted successively and one at a time,it Is to be understood'that the sequence of illumination may be variedin,- accordance 'W1tl1 the results which are desired, and that,

where a comparatively large number of tubes is employed, it will bepossible to further increase the variety of results obtainable by thelighting of tubes in groups of two or more at the same time, whichlighting is followed by the lighting of other groups of tubes. It isalso apparent that the light radiating portions of the several tubesconstituting a bank of tubes may be treated so as to displayvari-colored illumination, and that by the combination of colors anddifierent se uence of illumination practically any desire number ofdifi'erent lighting effects may be obtained.

A sign constructed in accordance with my invention is capable ofproducing effects heretofore not obtainable with signs using a largenumber of incandescent lights, and is of simple construction entailingthe use of much simpler electrical equipment than a sign constructed inaccordance with heretofore existing practice. Itv is to be understoodthat my invention is not applicable to signs only, but that it may alsobe embodied in illuminated designs or decorations of various differentkinds.

I claim:

1. In an illuminated sign, the combination of a plurality of gas filledtubes arranged close together and extending in the same generaldirection, and each adapted to glow upon the passage of an electriccurrent therethrough, each tube being of zigzag shape and comprising aplurality of connected and substantially V-shaped sections, therespective sections'of the tubes being substantially similar andarranged in transverse alignment and disposed in diiferent 7 positionsand in substantially radial relation about a line extendinglongitudinally and substantially centrally of the sign.

2. In an illuminated sign, the combination of a plurality of gas filledtubes arranged close together and extending in the 'same generaldirection, and each adapted to glow upon the passage of an electriccurrent therethrough, each tube being of zigzag shape and comprising aplurality of connected and substantially V-shaped sections, therespective sections of the tubes being substantially similar andarranged in transverse alignment and disposed in different positions andin substantially radial re: lation about a line extending longitudinallyand substantially centrally of the sign, the outer tubes being locatedin substantially the same general plane and the inner tubes beingdisposed substantially entirely on one side'of said general plane.

3. In an illuminated sign, the combination of a plurality of gas filledtubes arranged close together and extending in the same generaldirection, and each adapted to glow upon the passage of an electriccurrent therethrough, each tubebeing of zigzag shape and comprising aplurality of 4. In an illuminated sign, the combination I:

of alplurality of gas filled tubes arranged close together and extendinin the same general direction, and each adapted to glow upon the passageof an electric current therethrough, each tube being of zig-zag shapeand comprising a plurality of connected and substantially V-shapedsections, the respective sections of the tubes being substantiallysimilar and arranged in transverse alignment and disposed in differentpo- 5 sitions and in substantially radial relation about a lineextending longitudinally and substantially centrally of the sign, theouter tubes being located in substantially the same general plane andthe inner tubes being dis- 10 posed substantially entirely on one sideof said general plane, and means for successively illuminating the tubeswhereby the desired effect'is obtained.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto t5 subscribed my name.

WATKINS BENERMAN.

